Solness strikes for Stone-Walsh on first ride over fences Conor Stone Walsh continued his excellent start to life as a National Hunt jockey, claiming the Easyfix Equine Handicap Chase aboard Solness. The Wexford teenager created quite the impression on the level over the last 12-months and made the perfect start over obstacles at Cork last week, when partnering Dgalwaygallivantor to victory for Gavin Cromwell. Previously under the tutelage of Joseph O'Brien, the talented youngster is now based with Cromwell, but reunited with O'Brien for the ride on Solness, which was his first over fences. Twice successful in the spring and making his debut in handicap company this afternoon, the Brosnan Racing-owned victor was sent off a well-backed 7/1 chance (14s early). Racing mainly in fourth, the French bred son of Konig Turf was poised to challenge behind the leaders on the approach to the straight. He swept to the front before the last and soon had matters under control, going on to score by a comfortable six-lengths from the hat-trick seeking Fighting Fit (12/1 from 5s) and Gavin Brouder in second. The Eddie Cawley-trained Dont Go Yet (8/1) was another two-lengths away in third, while The Folkes Tiara (4/1f) could only manage a disappointing ninth. "It's only going downhill from here!," the winning rider quipped. "He jumped good everywhere. He travelled probably a bit too strong but when I got stuck into him after the last he really battled it out well to the line. "It was a good performance. "I'm just very thankful to a lot of people. I spent a lot of time with Joseph and its nice to repay him with a winner." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
